Friday, November 1, 2013

CREATION: Genesis 1 & 2

Here is an audio of me telling the story (right click and "save link as" if you want to download it): CREATION

Symbol: Globe

Weather permitting; take a walk to admire
God’s creation and talk about how He created everything. Thank Him for His
creativity and care. If the weather is not permitting, look at pictures! As an
after dinner discussion, talk about how God created each ingredient of the meal.
Again, thank Him for His creativity and for caring for you.

I want you to note that 1/3 of the Old Testament readings in the Jesse Tree come from the book of Genesis. It is one of the most important books for any believer to read and digest because it is the book of the beginning of God's relationship with man. It is FOUNDATIONAL to the understanding of all other books in the Bible.

What key words did you observe? Created is from the Hebrew word bara which is used only of God's activity. It is the initiation of an object that was "out of nothing." No one but God can do that!We see that God . . .

Was moving

Said

Saw

Separated

Called

Made

Placed

Blessed

Completed

Rested

Sanctified

God is a God of the "action verb"! I have gone through Genesis 1 with many non-believing seekers of God, and it is always fun to go through each day of Creation and pick out these words! It astounds me that God can just say, "Let there be light" and out of nothing there was light. He speaks the word and Creation comes forth. Pause and think about it.

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption

I will often point out how Jesus fits into the Old Testament, and you cannot help but cross reference this whole creation account with John 1:1-3, 14:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

And Colossians 1:15-17:

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Genesis 1:26-27 is the plural sense of the name of God, Elohim, "Let US make man in image." It suggests that there is plurality in the Godhead.

So exciting!Genesis 2 This is an amplification of what already went on in Genesis 1 when God created the heavens and the earth and its inhabitants. Notice that in Genesis 1:26-27 that he created man and woman “in His image.” He did not do that with any other creature on earth; just us. So, a whole other chapter is devoted to the amplification of those people that He made!

REFLECTION

Every time I read this chapter, I marvel at God's care reflected in every step of the creation process. He is a God who, as my old campus leader, Dennis Blevins, would say, ". . . made the sky before He made the birds, Carol."

In other words, He has a design and He provides. He planned every step and made provision for every living thing in the order that He created. It tells me that He created me and has provided for my every need ahead of time. That is so comforting.PRAYER We praise You as our Creator God. Help us to open our eyes and look at all Your handiwork this Christmas season. Amen.